1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Making Investments in Curbing the Ruinous Output of Plastics Act of 2020” or the “MICRO Plastics Act of 2020”.
Making Investments in Curbing the Ruinous Output of Plastics Act of 2020
A BILL
To establish a microplastics pilot program, and for other purposes.
2. Microplastics pilot program
Establishment— The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the “Administrator”) shall establish a pilot program (referred to in this section as the pilot program) to test the efficacy and cost effectiveness of tools, technologies, and techniques—
to remove microplastics from the environment; and
to prevent the release of microplastics into the environment.
Requirements— In carrying out the pilot program, the Administrator shall include the testing of—
natural infrastructure;
green infrastructure (as defined in section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362)); and
mechanical removal systems (such as pumps) and filtration technologies.
Eligible pilot program locations— In carrying out the pilot program, the Administrator may carry out projects located in—
stormwater systems;
wastewater treatment facilities;
drinking water systems; and
ports, harbors, inland waterways, estuaries, and marine environments.
Outreach— In determining selection criteria and projects to carry out under the pilot program, the Administrator shall conduct outreach to—
the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee established under section 5(a) of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1954(a)); and
stakeholders and experts in the applicable field, as determined by the Administrator.
Report— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report describing the outreach conducted under subsection (d).
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.